Mendez Takes Reins At Rivas; Kobryn, Powell Stay At Wisla

Rivas Ecopolis will enter the EuroLeague Women next season without the familiar face of Javier Fort walking the sidelines.

The club had an amicable split with their coach this week and have announced that long-time RC Celta Indep boss Miguel Mendez will now lead the team.

Rivas said in a statement: "Rivas Ecopolis announces it has signed coach Miguel Mendez to coach the first team for the 2011-12 campaign."

Mendez, 44, has some big shoes to fill.

Fort led Rivas in a terrific first season in the EuroLeague Women, guiding them to a first-place finish in their Qualifying Round group.

This season, they made it to the play-offs as well but for the second year in a row fell in the Eighth-Finals, this time losing to UMMC Ekaterinburg, 2-0.

However, Fort was in charge of the team when they experienced arguably the finest moment in club history.

Rivas travelled to Valencia earlier this season and beat Halcon Avenida and hosts Ros Casares to win the Copa de la Reina.

The Spanish club said that Fort rejected an offer to coach in Turkey and remain at Rivas, however, the outfit says he has been lured away by another side that will be in the EuroLeague Women.

Kobryn, Powell Pen New Wisla Deals

Wisla Can-Pack Krakow have signed captain Ewelina Kobryn and sharpshooting forward Nicole Powell to new contracts.

The club has confirmed on their website the two will be with the Polish champions for another season.

Wisla, who are led by Spain's national team coach Jose Ignacio Hernandez, have many of the players that helped them capture the domestic league title coming back, while also bolstering the roster with Belgium international Anke De Mondt and Serbia's Ana Dabović.

Other key players that are still in the squad are point guards Erin Phillips and Paulina Pawlak, Katarzyna Krężel and Belarus center Yelena Leuchanka.